Control Headcollar for unloading

[sjdress]

Looking for some advise as to what control headcollar to go to for a horse who pulls out of the trailer when unloading. I need to do some practice with this and need more than a normal headcollar. I’m not sure of the difference between the rope with knots headcollars or the dually type ones. She doesn’t really like anything low on her nose so not sure dually would actually suit.

 

[Maddie Moo]

Could you use a bridle instead?

 

[Cortez]

Looking for some advise as to what control headcollar to go to for a horse who pulls out of the trailer when unloading. I need to do some practice with this and need more than a normal headcollar. I’m not sure of the difference between the rope with knots headcollars or the dually type ones. She doesn’t really like anything low on her nose so not sure dually would actually suit.

The whole point of a "control" headcollar is to make it unpleasant for the horse to do something you don't want it to do, so I'd imagine a dually will be quite effective. Either that or a chain over the nose, or a bridle to keep you in charge.

 

[Caski]

Chain type headcollar proved very effective - I think it may have been an Eskadron, chain could be used under jaw or over nose. Taught my keen big chap that jumping from the top of the ramp was uncomfortable, he soon realised that he had reached the meet!!

 

[Follysmum]

Definitely dually’s work well
I had a horse that wouldn’t load then when in would run backwards fast. A few sessions with the dually and he was perfect.

 

[millitiger]

I really like my Richard Maxwell headcollar.
It's also very easy to slip over their normal headcollars.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Old bitsa bridle; all you need is a headpiece (I cut off throatlash), cheek pieces and a suitable bit, pop straight over headcollar.

 

[dottylottie]

dually headcollar would probably be the most convenient, since you can tie up in it safely. chain headcollars work but i don’t like having the chain flapping about when you tie them up. or if you can be bothered with the faffing and taking on/off, i second the suggestion of an old bridle with only the headpiece

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I have used a controller type as well as a bridle but I’m always worried in case I let go and horse treads on the rope which is extra long. Issue is as Caski above horse leaps off the ramp with me trying to keep up. Not good.

 

[Skib]

The Dually (if so set) and Maxwell collars tighten like lassooes. The Double Diamond rope collars I use dont. The position of the rope on the nose is adjusted when one ties the head strap. It is the same as when you buckle a conventional head collar.
To be honest, just as one can teach a horse to load nicely, I would consider training the horse to unload nicely.

 

[sjdress]

The Dually (if so set) and Maxwell collars tighten like lassooes. The Double Diamond rope collars I use dont. The position of the rope on the nose is adjusted when one ties the head strap. It is the same as when you buckle a conventional head collar.
To be honest, just as one can teach a horse to load nicely, I would consider training the horse to unload nicely.

That’s what I am trying to do but when she charges off I can’t hold her so need something to teach her she can’t charge off the ramp. I’m not strong enough to hold her! She’s very polite usually in hand.

 

[dottylottie]

can you work on not rushing off the trailer by backing her off first? i’ve only ever backed one of mine off the handful of times she’s been on, purely by coincidence, but she’s absolutely fine yet i think if i take her off the front now i’ve got my own, she’ll be a leaper! just an idea, hopefully the calmness coming off would translate to the front ramp.

 

[Cortez]

I very rarely (read: never) use food to train horses, but in the case of charging off a trailer I will get the horse to get his nose into a bucket and then walk him off the ramp with nose still in bucket. I get them to go one step then stop, and repeat. I always unload on the front ramp, but works with a rear unload too. I also repeat many times in the one session, at least 3.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Mine are all taught to stand on the trailer before dis-embarking. I, too, like Cortez will use food initially for this whilst training. Rushing can also be a fear thing, so I would concentrate on gaining her trust on the trailer. Make sure she goes off the trailer backwards too, something every horse should have the ability to do. In the event of an accident, a horse may have to come off this way so they should practice this.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Looking for some advise as to what control headcollar to go to for a horse who pulls out of the trailer when unloading. I need to do some practice with this and need more than a normal headcollar. I’m not sure of the difference between the rope with knots headcollars or the dually type ones. She doesn’t really like anything low on her nose so not sure dually would actually suit.

Could you back her out? My boy panics coming out the front ramp, but unloads beautifully backwards.

 

[sjdress]

Could you back her out? My boy panics coming out the front ramp, but unloads beautifully backwards.

I could try backwards. She happily stands quietly in there but as soon as I move her forward to go out she takes one step then leaps off and I just can’t hold her.
Will also try food as above as she is very food orientated!

 

[AdorableAlice]

A friend had a similar problem with a big competition horse and it was very dangerous. Fine on a lorry but trailer was a different story. I think the space was just too tight for the horse on a trailer.

We stopped competing it and concentrated on loading and off loading at home until it all became boring and the horse calmed down. We did the training at random times of day, often after exercise. There was never an issue with loading but if the front ramp was down it would try to exit at speed. Food was used, a lot of patience and no actual travelling or parties. Eventually the horse was load and stand in the trailer with no breast bar and the front ramp down without the use of food to distract but it took a good while and would have only taken a bumped hip or head to set the horse back. A dually was used, 2 long lines and 2 people.

The potential for a very nasty accident is high with this type of behaviour.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I could try backwards. She happily stands quietly in there but as soon as I move her forward to go out she takes one step then leaps off and I just can’t hold her.
Will also try food as above as she is very food orientated!

Mine is the same. He has jumped off the top of a lorry ramp before. Its just not worth the risk. He backs out like a lamb. Been doing it 5 years or so now. No issues.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I had an experience many years ago as a young person, before I knew what horses are capable of in a panic scenario.

My young horse panicked after I loaded her. The front ramp was down and breast bar up. I had ducked under bar and was at nose of trailer when she exploded under (she was 15hh) the breast bar, squashed me, and plummeted down the front ramp.
Luckily the hay net provided a buffer between me and the trailer and the mare was checked by vet and all ok.

I learnt the hard way there that although it's nice to make the trailer more inviting and lighter by letting down the front ramp, if they panic and try to escape and the breast bar gets in their way, you can end up with a messy situation and very often are caught up yourself in it.

Now when loading I have youngsters and they are taught to load onto a trailer with no partition and a full breast bar and nothing open at the front. My jockey door opens and leans back 'to' the trailer so it looks shut to the horse but I have an escape route.
They load on and are taught to unload calmly back, a step at a time, with a treat every time a step back or two is calmly executed.
I'd rather a horse panic backwards, where I'm more likely to be in front of it, than forwards because it can see an open ramp as an exit point, and get myself caught up in the carnage.

 

[Ceifer]

I very rarely (read: never) use food to train horses, but in the case of charging off a trailer I will get the horse to get his nose into a bucket and then walk him off the ramp with nose still in bucket. I get them to go one step then stop, and repeat. I always unload on the front ramp, but works with a rear unload too. I also repeat many times in the one session, at least 3.

This is a good method.
I have done this in a similar (although weird) situation with a horse that was an absolute pig to turnout. He would be vile to lead and no amount of control measures would make any difference. Pop a bucket of food in the equation and he was a different horse.
Was it ideal? Absolutely not
Did it work? Yep and was safer for everyone.

 

[Landcruiser]

I fitted a stallguard across the front ramp of my Wessex trailer. My youngster initially wanted to rush off (she was fine backing off but I think it's important they can do both, you never know where you'll have to park). One of those chain/rubber ones, fitted to a hefty ring at the nose end and the breastbar ring at the other. By using this (I made sure she knew it was there first) I got her used to going as far as the top of the ramp standing looking out, then backing her off it, repeating, until she was relaxed standing in the doorway. Then I could quietly unclip and we'd go down nice and controlled in her rope halter. It actually only took a couple of practices at this for her to be fine with walking off nicely and not needing the stallguard to stop her. It's good practice to get them to stop there anyway IMO.

 

[BMA2]

I very rarely (read: never) use food to train horses, but in the case of charging off a trailer I will get the horse to get his nose into a bucket and then walk him off the ramp with nose still in bucket. I get them to go one step then stop, and repeat. I always unload on the front ramp, but works with a rear unload too. I also repeat many times in the one session, at least 3.

Totally agree...
Mine did/can do this. Rope overnose and a biscuit stopped it and being totally organised before I unloaded

 

[Leah3horses]

Is it possible to park the trailer somewhere safe and enclosed where she can investigate the trailer at liberty? Have small bowls of feed or carrots in it ready, so it becomes a rewarding place for her ? It takes time , she needs access to it for at least an hour at a time , ideally when she's a bit peckish, for several weeks. This method is force free and her adrenalin and ott leap off will naturally decrease , because there's no pressure, force or rush. Horses work a lot out on their own if given the time but I know most people are in more of a rush with things than my slow , positive reinforcement ways .
Alternatively, find a very experienced positive reinforcement trainer with excellent timing, I've backed my baby cob tackless and taught him absolutely everything using it, but I have 25 years experience in it. Good luck with her whatever you do

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

First time we tried mine on a lorry he lept the ramp instead of walking down it.

He is target trained (touch a toy ball with his nose, immediately receive a treat - can be a scratch but for this is was food) so the next time a friend held the ball at the bottom of the ramp so he was focused on going to the target for his treat.

New lorry and we have a steep ramp which he struggles to do slowly but he does it as steadily as he can and I have an extra long lead rope (half the length of a lunge line) so he doesn't drag me down the ramp. As he's used to receiving a small reward at the bottom of the ramp, he doesn't charge off anywhere but walks down hurriedly then turns to wait for me (and a pat and a scratch, sometimes a small snack)

 

[Annagain]

I very rarely (read: never) use food to train horses, but in the case of charging off a trailer I will get the horse to get his nose into a bucket and then walk him off the ramp with nose still in bucket. I get them to go one step then stop, and repeat. I always unload on the front ramp, but works with a rear unload too. I also repeat many times in the one session, at least 3.

I also used food but did the opposite. Down the ramp, stop as soon as possible, stand for a second, treat. Kept asking him to stop sooner with a treat as soon as he'd stood still. The focus was on stopping sooner rather than how long he stood for, even one second was enough. After about 5 times he was stopping mid ramp and would stand for quite a while even without me specifically asking for that. Then stopping twice etc. By the end he'd stop every step for a treat.